GE 5: Purposive Communication in English
Module 5, Week 5: Evaluating Messages and/or Images of Different Types of Texts Reflecting
Different Culture
I. Lesson Proper
1.1 What is a Message and Its Purpose?
A message is a piece of information that is conveyed from a sender to a receiver. It can
be expressed through various mediums, including:
• Verbal: Spoken words, language, and tone of voice.
• Non-verbal: Body language, facial expressions, gestures, and visual cues.
• Written: Text, emails, letters, and documents.
• Visual: Images, videos, and art.
The purpose of a message is to achieve a specific goal or outcome. This can vary
depending on the context and the relationship between the sender and receiver. Here are some
common purposes of messages:
1. To Inform:
• Example: A news report informing the public about a recent event.
• Purpose: To share factual information, knowledge, or updates.
2. To Persuade:
• Example: An advertisement persuading consumers to buy a product.
• Purpose: To influence the receiver's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors.
3. To Request:
• Example: A job application requesting an interview.
• Purpose: To ask for something, such as information, action, or assistance.
4. To Express:
• Example: A poem expressing emotions or feelings.
• Purpose: To convey personal thoughts, emotions, or experiences.
5. To Build Relationships:
• Example: A greeting or conversation between friends.
• Purpose: To strengthen social connections, foster understanding, and build trust.
6. To Entertain:
• Example: A stand-up comedy routine.
• Purpose: To provide amusement, enjoyment, and laughter.
7. To Inspire:
• Example: A motivational speech.
• Purpose: To motivate, encourage, or uplift the receiver.
8. To Warn:
• Example: A traffic sign warning drivers of a hazard.
• Purpose: To alert the receiver of potential danger or risks.
How to Convey a Message Effectively?
Conveying a message effectively is a crucial communication skill. It involves understanding your
audience, choosing the right medium, and crafting a clear, concise, and impactful message. Here's a
breakdown of key steps:
a. Define Your Purpose: What do you want to achieve with your message?
b. Understand Your Audience: Who is your intended receiver?
c. Choose the Right Medium: What will you use to send out the message?
d. Craft a Clear and Concise Message: What consists of the message?
e. Pay Attention to Non-Verbal Cues: How will you present the message?
f. Seek Feedback and Adapt: How did your audience accept the message?
Key Considerations
• Context: The situation and environment in which the message is delivered.
• Audience: The intended receiver or group of receivers.
• Channel: The medium used to convey the message.
• Encoding: The way the sender translates their thoughts into a message.
• Decoding: The way the receiver interprets the message.
Understanding the purpose of a message is essential for effective communication. By
considering the context, audience, and other factors, senders can ensure that their message is
clear, concise, and achieves the desired outcome.
1.2 Evaluating Different Cultural Text and Messages
A Text is any form of words or symbols that conveys a set of meanings that is suitable for
observation and analysis. A text could be a work of literature and art, an image, a street sign,
advertisements, styles of clothing, or even social interactions of a particular nation, people, or other
group. When we analyze the messages and/or images of various text types, we realize that these
reflect one’s own culture and values.
Guidelines on how to evaluate messages/images of different types of texts reflecting
different culture
1. Recognizing the Invisible - Cultural messages are often subtle and implicit, woven into the
fabric of our daily lives. They can be found in:
• Language: Idioms, metaphors, and expressions often carry cultural baggage.
• Visuals: Images, symbols, and colors can hold different meanings across cultures.
• Behaviors: Social norms, customs, and etiquette vary widely.
• Stories and Narratives: Folklore, myths, and legends reflect a culture's values and beliefs.
2. The Importance of Context - Interpreting cultural messages requires understanding the context
in which they are presented. This includes:
• Historical Context: A culture's history shapes its values and beliefs.
• Social Context: Social structures, power dynamics, and social norms influence
communication.
• Geographic Context: Location and environment can impact cultural expressions.
3. Building Cultural Competence - To effectively interpret cultural messages, we need to develop
cultural competence, which involves:
• Empathy: Putting ourselves in the shoes of others and trying to understand their
perspectives.
• Active Listening: Paying attention not only to words but also to non-verbal cues and cultural
nuances.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Being aware of and respecting cultural differences, avoiding
stereotypes and generalizations.
• Continuous Learning: Staying curious and open to expanding our cultural knowledge.
4. The Role of Interpretation in Communication - Interpreting cultural messages is crucial for
effective communication, especially in a globalized world. It helps us:
• Avoid Misunderstandings: Recognizing cultural differences can prevent misinterpretations
and conflicts.
• Foster Respect and Understanding: Appreciating cultural diversity promotes tolerance and
empathy.
• Build Stronger Relationships: Understanding cultural nuances can strengthen connections
across cultures.
5. Challenging Limiting Beliefs - Cultural messages can sometimes shape limiting beliefs about
us and others. It's important to:
• Question Our Assumptions: Be critical of our own cultural biases and preconceptions.
• Seek Diverse Perspectives: Engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
• Embrace a Growth Mindset: Be open to learning and challenging your own beliefs.
Sample Illustration 1
A Female Restroom Signage
Guide Questions Response
1. What is the message of the Women are allowed inside.
text/image?
2. What is the purpose of the To inform that only women are allowed inside
message?
3. How is the message conveyed By putting the image of a woman wearing a dress and writing
by the text/image? the word woman to signify what gender is asked or emphasized
4. Who is the target audience? Everyone
5. And what are the other ways of Writing the words/sentences completely that women are
presenting the message? allowed inside the restroom, or the restroom is for women only.
Sample Illustration 2
Guide Questions Response
1. What is the message of the To improve the look of your skin, you must use Dove
text/image? VisibleCare, a new revolutionary line of body wash.
2. What is the purpose of the To advertise the product and persuade the audience to buy and
message? use the product.
3. How is the message conveyed Dove released an ad with magnified images of clean and
by the text/image? unclean skin as the backdrop to three women of different skin
colors.
4. Who is the target audience? The target audience of this product is those who have unclean
skin.
5. And what are the other ways of Aside from the tagline or text used in the printed-out
presenting the message? advertisement, we can also convey the message through an
image or photo.
Sample Illustration 3
Television Commercial: BREEZE
Guide Questions Response
1. What is the message of No matter how tough the stain is, Breeze can easily remove it since
the text/image? it claims that it has a power of ten hands.
2. What is the purpose of the The purpose is to encourage audiences to buy and use this product.
message?
3. How is the message The company used a concrete tagline that can catch the attention
conveyed by the of the viewers. They also put creativity through highlighting and
text/image? showcasing the good character of the Filipinos.
4. Who is the target The target audience of this advertisement is everyone, especially
audience? parents and individuals who use detergent to wash their clothes.
5. And what are the other Aside from TV commercials, they can also advertise in magazines,
ways of presenting the newspapers, and radio to encourage more customers to purchase.
message?
1.3 APA 7th Edition Reference Format: A Comprehensive Guide
The American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition style guide provides a standardized
format for citing sources in academic writing. This guide will outline the basic rules and common
reference formats for various types of sources.
General Formatting Rules:
a. Hanging Indent: The first line of each reference is flush left, and subsequent lines are indented
½ inch.
b. Double Spacing: Use double spacing throughout the reference list.
c. Font: Use a legible font like Times New Roman 12pt or Arial 11pt.
d. Alphabetical Order: References are listed alphabetically by the first author's last name.
e. Capitalization: Capitalize only the first word of the title and subtitle, the first word after a colon
or dash, and proper nouns.
f. Italics: Italicize titles of longer works (e.g., books, journals, newspapers).
Common Reference Formats:
1. Journal Articles:
• Author(s). (Year). Article title. Journal Title, Volume (Issue), page numbers. doi:
[DOI number]
• Example:
Smith, J. D., & Jones, A. B. (2020). The impact of social media on mental health. Journal
of Social Psychology, 160(2), 123-135. doi: 10.1080/00224545.2019.1698723
2. Books:
• Author(s). (Year). Book title. Publisher.
• Example:
Brown, L. (2019). The psychology of motivation. Routledge.
3. Book Chapters:
• Author(s). (Year). Chapter title. In Editor(s) (Eds.), Book title (pp. page numbers).
Publisher.
• Example:
Johnson, C. M. (2021). Cognitive biases in decision-making. In S. T. Lee & R. A. Baron
(Eds.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 345-370). Oxford University Press.
4. Websites:
• Author(s). (Year). Title of page. Retrieved from [URL]
• Example:
American Psychological Association. (2023). APA style. Retrieved
from [Link]
5. Online Documents (No Author):
• Title of document. (Year). Retrieved from [URL]
• Example:
The benefits of exercise. (2022). Retrieved from [Link]
lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
6. Videos:
• Producer. (Year). Title of video [Video file]. Retrieved from [URL]
• Example:
TED. (2019). The power of vulnerability by Brené Brown [Video file]. Retrieved
from [Link]
7. Electronic Databases:
• Author(s). (Year). Article title. Journal Title, Volume (Issue), page numbers.
Retrieved from [Database name]
• Example:
Miller, K. A., & Smith, M. J. (2020). The role of empathy in conflict resolution. Journal of
Conflict Resolution, 64(3), 543-560. Retrieved from PsycINFO database.
Note:
• If a source has no date, use (n.d.) in place of the year.
• If a source has more than 20 authors, list the first 19 authors, followed by an ellipsis (...) and the
last author's name.
• When citing a specific part of a source, include the page number or other locator (e.g., paragraph
number, timestamp) in the in-text citation.